June 1, 2016 Amway Canadian Championship--Toronto FC vs Montreal Impact played at BMO Field in Toronto at 7:30pm.

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Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

.................1 Clint Irwin
33 Steven Beitashour...15 Eriq Zavaleta...6 Nick Hagglund...5 Ashtone Morgan
19 Daniel Lovitz...21 Jonathan Osorio...8 Benoit Cheyrou (cpt)...18 Marky Delgado
..............22 Jordan Hamilton...11 Mo Babouli

Subs:...25 Alex Bono (gk)...2 Justin Morrow (def)...3 Drew Moor (def)...14 Jay Chapman (mid)
...24 Damien Perquis (def)...36 Brian James (mid)...56 Malik Johnston (mid)
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney

Montreal Impact (blue socks, black shorts, blue shirts with blue & black stripes on chest, white names and numbers)

..................22 Eric Kronberg
26 Kyle Fisher...6 Hassoun Camara...5 Wandrille Lefevre...28 Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare
.........32 Lucas Ontivero...18 Kyle Bekker...8 Patrice Bernier (cpt)
.........10 Ignacio Piatti...11 Didier Drogba...7 Dominic Oduro

Subs:...1 Evan Bush (gk)...14 Harry Shipp (mid)...19 Michael Salazar (fwd)...29 Eric Alexander (mid)
...29 Cameron Porter (fwd)...51 Maxim Tissot (mid)...99 David Choiniere (mid)
team officials:...head coach Mauro Biello

Game officials:...referee David Gantar...referee's assistants Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho and Peter Pendli
...fourth official David Barrie...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 7:42pm...TFC defends north end.
50 sec...TFC Beitashour cross from 28 yards on right has TFC Hamilton head 18 yarder from right that's caught by goalie.
2 min...Imp goalie out to 15 yards to pick up bouncer into box before TFC Hamilton can get to it. Ball was sent in by TFC defender from 80 yards.
5 min...TFC Morgan cross from 30 yards on left has TFC Babouli not able to turn header at 18 yards.
7 min...TFC Cheyrou blocks Imp Ontivero's 12 yard shot up middle.
11 min...TFC Osorio cross from 18 yards on left has TFC Lovitz head from 12 yards that goalie catches under bar.
12 min...TFC Jonathan Osorio GOAL...TFC Ashton Morgan cross from 25 yards on left has Osorio at 8 yards control ball and shoot over sprawling goalie Eric Kronberg at 5 yards into center of net.
14 min...TFC Hamilton low cross after run on right wing has Imp players eventually clear from box.
14 min...TFC Morgan rolls ball into box up middle and Imp Camara clears from 15 yards.
15 min...TFC Morgan tackle injures Imp Ontivero at center line near sideline.
16 min...TFC Cheyrou cross from 30 yards in middle finds TFC Lovitz but goalie punches ball away at 7 yards crashing into him on right. Imp are awarded freekick.
17 min...TFC Babouli rolls pass up middle from 28 yards and TFC Hamilton rolls gentle 12 yarder that goalie sprawls to save.
22 min...Imp Drogba injured at TFC 50 yard line on sliding tackle by TFC Beitashour that he tripped over him. Imp Piatti stopped on edge of box. Drogba needs trainer.
27 min...Imp Fisher long throw-in into box from right is cleared by TFC Morgan booting ball away at 8 yards for another throw-in.
27 min...Imp player's long throw-in from right has defender head it away and TFC Babouli boot ball away.
28 min...TFC Beitashour makes big check at 20 yards to break up rush by Imp Piatti.
29 min...Imp Drogba 22 yard shot up middle off shoulder of TFC Hagglund at 15 yards.
30 min...Imp Ontivero low 28 yard shot up middle rolls ball wide right of net.
31 min...Imp Piatti can't win Penalty kick on slip up at 17 yards on left side of box after TFC Beitashour slid to clear ball.
32 min...TFC Lovitz sends high cross from 25 yards on right that bends wide left of net for goalkick.
33 min...TFC Jonathan Osorio GOAL...TFC Morgan short throw-in from left to TFC Mo Babouli who rolls cross from 22 yards on left. TFC Jordan Hamilton can't get away shot at 8 yards with Imp Hassoun Camara getting foot in. Osorio follows up with low 10 yard shot in middle to left side of net under sliding goalie.
36 min...TFC Hagglund leaps to boot away ball at 7 yards in middle on chip from Imp Piatti from 25 yards on left just a step ahead of charging Imp Drogba.
36 min...TFC Beitashour cross from 30 yards on right is caught by goalie backing towards left post.
37 min...Imp Oduro goal from 8 yards on left is called back as offside.
38 min...TFC Lovitz low cross into box from 20 yards from right has Imp Fisher clear ball behind net.
39 min...TFC Lovitz high cornerkick from right has TFC Hagglund head from left across box and goalie steps forward and leaps up to catch ball at 7 yards in crowd of players.
40 min...Imp Drogba 35 yard freekick from left lands on top of net above right corner.
42 min...TFC Osorio low cross from 25 yards on left is stopped at 10 yards and cleared in box.
43 min...TFC Delgado crosses from 22 yards on right and TFC Babouli can't turn header at 12 yards on left and ball bounces wide left out for goalkick.
45 min...Imp Piatti is checked off ball just inside left side of box on run.
46 min...Imp RED card...Patrice Bernier earns a direct ejection from referee David Gantar for a sliding tackle on TFC Daniel Lovitz who was also sliding for ball at TFC 25 yard line. Lovitz gets up and shoves Bernier and both teams start pushing each other.
48 min...half ends 8:30pm.

Halftime Entertainments: As this was not an MLS league game the sponsers and entertainment were different than usual. There was an Amway 'Fan of the Match' chosen. There were ads for the Ontario Soccer Association and the international friendly between the Canadian and Brazilian women's teams. The scoreboard also showed a video package of 'Toronto vs Montreal 100 Year Rivalry' which showed different sports. It was also announced that the other Canadian Championship Semi-Final between Ottawa Fury (NASL) and Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS) was also at halftime and Ottawa was holding a 2-0 lead.

Second Half: starts 8:46pm.
halftime sub:...Imp Alexander replaces Ontivero.
45 min...Imp player's cornerkick from right is cleared at 12 yards on right with TFC player's header.
46 min...TFC Zavaleta long chip from 60 yards on right has TFC Hamilton get foot to at 15 yards but ball bounces to goalie.
48 min...Imp goalie charges out to 22 yards to beat TFC Hamilton to through ball and clear.
50 min...TFC Morgan 35 yard cross from left has goalie dive to make catch at 6 yards.
50 min...Imp Piatti 20 yard shot from left on run between defenders is high and wide right.
51 min...TFC player's cross from 25 yards on right hs Imp Fisher head away at 5 yards on left preventing TFC Babouli getting to it.
51 min...Imp Piatti high chip from 25 yards on left bounces on right side of box and is cleared.
52 min...Imp Drogba pops up header at 25 yards up middle and TFC Zavaleta at 15 yards heads ball back for goalie to catch in front of Imp Piatti.
52 min...TFC Osorio 15 yard shot from left is partially blocked off defender and deflects high and wide right for cornerkick.
52 min...TFC Lovitz cornerkick from right is short and TFC Babouli eventually dribble ball into box from right and Imp Fisher checks him off ball but concedes cornerkick.
53 min...TFC Lovitz cornerkick from right is partially cleared on header by Imp Drogba at 7 yards in middle and TFC Cheyrou blasts 30 yarder up middle that goalie flies to bat wide right for cornerkick.
54 min...TFC player's throw-in near right corner flag is cleared.
55 min...TFC Babouli in middle shoots well wide right of goal from 20 yards.
57 min...TFC Lovitz threads pass from right 50 yards that TFC Hamilton can't control at 25 yards up middle.
59 min...TFC Jordan Hamilton GOAL...TFC Benoit Cheyrou at 35 yards on right chips pass forward passes to TFC Mo Babouli who heads centering pass from 20 yards across to Hamilton to take step left to avoid Imp Hassoun Camara and shoot low 15 yarder to left side of net past diving goalie.
63 min...TFC Lovitz on right cuts on Imp Gagnon-Lapare and shoots low 20 yarder from right that goalie sprawls to stop.
64 min...TFC Beitashour low cross from 25 yards on right has charging TFC Hamilton not able to control at 6 yards and rolls across box for goalie to step forward and pick up.
66 min...Imp sub...Salazar replaces Oduro.
67 min...TFC Lovitz kicks ball out Imp end zone after offside whistle against him.
68 min...TFC Hagglund heads away long throw-in into TFC box from Imp Fisher on right.
69 min...Imp goalie dives on long ball sent in from 45 yards ball before TFC Babouli can get to it.
71 min...TFC Lovitz low cross from 25 yards on right has Imp Lefevre at 10 yards in middle of box clear.
72 min...Imp Piatti long run up middle and blasts 25 yard shot wide right of top corner of net.
74 min...Imp Drogba sends in low cross from 30 yards on right that Imp Salazar slips at 6 yards and ball rolls out for goalkick although flag was up for offside.
75 min...TFC sub...Chapman replaces Cheyrou. Cheyrou makes Morgan the captain.
76 min...TFC Babouli can't work his way in for shot on left inside box on two attempts having both blocked by Imp Fisher.
77 min...TFC Chapman short pass to TFC Lovitz and his shot is blocked inside box in middle.
78 min...Imp sub...Porter replaces Gagnon-Lapare.
78 min...TFC Jordan Hamilton GOAL...TFC Steven Beitashour is sent short through ball on right from TFC Daniel Lovitz and he rolls centering pass from 12 yards to Hamilton who shoots eludes Imp Hassoun Camara at 10 yards and shoots 7 yarder down middle into left side of net..
80 min...TFC sub...Johnson replaces Babouli.
81 min...Imp Drogba 40 yard freekick from right has Imp Porter head ball wide right on leap at 12 yards on right.
83 min...TFC sub...James replaces Lovitz.
84 min...Imp Drogba crosses from 28 yards on far right and ball is too far and bounces out left side of box.
85 min...Imp Michael Salazar GOAL...Imp Didier Drogba chips cross from 25 yards on right and charging Salazar gets behind defenders and heads in 8 yarder down middle into left of net.
87 min...Imp Porter can't keep ball in play after long run to left end line.
89 min...TFC James 10 yard shot deflects off sliding defender and is caught by goalie.
89 min...Imp Didier Drogba GOAL...Drogba 28 yard freekick is bent into low left side of goal beyond flying goalie.
90 min...TFC YELLOW card...goalie Irwin earns it for stalling Imp Piatti retrieving ball by pushing him over.
92 min...Imp goalie 65 yard freekick has Imp Drogba on left head ball across TFC box and Imp Porter misses scissor kick attempt at 15 yards up middle.
92 min...TFC goalie catches Imp Lefevre cross from 25 yards on right.
93 min...game ends 9:34pm.

Final Score:.......Toronto FC.........4...........Montreal Impact............2.............

Attendance was announced as 22,143. The crowd was slow to build up in the first half.

I didn't hear any announcement of an MVP for the game. TFC Jonathan Osorio with the game's opening two goals would get my vote.

Toronto FC opens up with a resounding 4-2 victory in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship semi-final. They were more convincing up to the 80 minute mark but I felt their choice of subs was poor. I could understand subbing out Mo Babouli and Daniel Lovitz who had both run many miles tonight but they were replaced by two Toronto FC II players--forward Malik Johnson and midfielder Brian James. I would have overloaded the defence with TFC regulars Drew Moor and Justin Morrow to keep the Impact from scoring away goals. Even subbing in defender Damien Perquis who is trying to play himself back as a starter after making defensive blunders in earlier games should have been considered.

The Impact deserve credit for scoring two Away goals while playing shorthanded. Impact captain Patrice Bernier (also a Canadian) took a direct Red card just before halftime for retaliation of a foul by Daniel Lovitz and I figured Impact were done and would just go into a defensive shell and try to win next week.

Last year the first leg was played in Montreal and TFC won the return leg 2-1 and was put out by the Away goal rule. The grounds crew blew off fireworks last year but maybe didn't know the rule. Tonight there were no fireworks let off postgame.

Toronto Raptor (basketball) player Bismack Biyombo was sitting a few rows in front of us.

There were lots of Canadians on TFC tonight. Starters were Jonathan Osorio (two goals tonight), Jordan Hamilton (two goals tonight), Mo Babouli and defender Ashton Morgan. Subbing into the gae was midfielder Jay Chapman. Impact also had four Canadian starters with midfielders Patrice Bernier and Kyle Bekker, and defenders Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare and Wandrille Lefevre.

TFC Mo Babouli passed over for Jordan Hamilton to score. I hope this doesn't upgrade Hamilton at the expense of Babouli who I feel is a better player but these two are dueling for the same position as backup forward behind Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore who are both injured at this time.

TFC midfielders Michael Bradley (USA) and Will Johnson (Canada) were both away on National team duty.

TFC Benoit Cheyrou came back from a long injury and was given the Bradley role as defensive midfielder. He played well. When he was subbed off at 75 minutes he gave the armband to Ashtone Morgan, a good choice and it made a Canadian team captain.

stats from MLSsoccer.com
Match Information

Goals and Assists
13'    TFC Jonathan Osorio       Assisted By: Ashtone Morgan 
34'    TFC Jonathan Osorio 
60'    TFC Jordan Hamilton       Assisted By: Mo Babouli 
80'    TFC Jordan Hamilton       Assisted By: Steven Beitashour 
86'    MTL Michael Salazar       Assisted By: Didier Drogba 
90'+1' MTL Didier Drogba 

Disciplinary
45'+2' MTL Patrice Bernier  RED     Reason: Serious Foul 
90'+1' Clint Irwin          YELLOW  Reason: Unsporting Behavior 

Lineup

Toronto FC 
22 F Jordan Hamilton 
 1 G Clint Irwin 
33 D Steven Beitashour 
15 D Eriq Zavaleta 
 6 D Nick Hagglund 
 5 D Ashtone Morgan 
 8 M Benoit Cheyrou    (76')
18 M Marco Delgado 
19 M Daniel Lovitz     (84')
21 M Jonathan Osorio 
11 M Mo Babouli        (80')

Bench
25 G Alex Bono 
24 D Damien Perquis 
 3 D Drew Moor 
 2 D Justin Morrow 
14 M Jay Chapman       (76')
36 M Brian James       (84') 
56 M Malik Johnson     (80')

Manager  Greg Vanney  

Montreal Impact 
11 F Didier Drogba 
22 G Eric Kronberg 
26 D Kyle Fisher 
 6 D Hassoun Camara 
 5 D Wandrille Lefevre 
28 D Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé (79')
18 M Kyle Bekker 
 8 M Patrice Bernier 
32 M Lucas Ontivero     (HT')
10 M Ignacio Piatti 
 7 M Dominic Oduro      (67')

Bench
 1 G Evan Bush 
39 D Cameron Porter     (79') 
29 M Eric Alexander     (HT')
19 M Michael Salazar    (67')
14 M Harry Shipp 
99 M David Choinière 
51 M Maxim Tissot 

Manager Mauro Biello 

Officials
Referee  David Gantar 
Assistant Referee  Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho 
Assistant Referee  Peter Pendli 
Fourth Official  David Barrie 

Match Information
Canada Chmp at BMO Field
Toronto, ON
Attendance 22143
Weather Clear

Team Statistics

TOR                           MTL
 13     Shots                   9 
 10     Shots on Target         2 
  1     Shots off Target        5 
  2     Blocked Shots           2 
  3     Corners                 1 
 16     Crosses                 8 
  4     Offsides                4 
 10     Fouls                   6  
  1     Yellow Cards            0 
  0     Red Cards               1 
350     Total Passes          471 
 69 %   Passing Accuracy       77 % 
 42.9 % Possession             57.1 % 
 51     Duels Won              47 
 14     Tackles Won             9 
  0     Saves                   6 
 21     Clearances             10 


Toronto FC starters


Montreal Impact starters


TFC Jordan Hamilton (22 and Jonathan Osorio (21) take opening kickoff.


TFC Ashtone Morgan (5) gets foot in on Impact Didier Drogba (11)


Impact Didier Drogba (11) crosses into middle.


TFC Jordan Hamilton (22) runs out of room on run down left.


Impact Dominic Oduro (7) and Didier Drogba (11) take second half kickoff.


TFC Steven Beitashour (33) takes throw-in.


Impact Didier Drogba (11) takes freekick up middle.

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